As long as you are competing with yourself and trying to be better with each passing day, there is no way you can fail to excel.
And this can be seen in the services offered by spa centers, one of the reasons why I continue to promote this market with all my heart.
Top spas don't stand still. They are reinventing themselves, modeling themselves after new trends or some even create them.
Since last year when I visited them (I wrote here about their fantastic mud ritual) if here about the 2 therapies that transformed me in 3 hours into another woman), Iuliana Tasie, Ana Hotels Europa Eforie Nord Eforie Nord's director, told me that this summer they will open the season with new additions to the Spa menu.
We are looking forward to them. I knew the launch would be around mid-May. So when Diana Cotoros asked me to join the press-trip, I confirmed on the spot.
I had remembered from previous years that all rooms have a sea view, which from the start seems to me to be an asset of the hotel.
But I never expected to get a room on the 8th floor and have this view:
As I struggled off the balcony, I noticed a plate of fruit and two bottles of water waiting for me - one still, one carbonated. Later I understood that this is a service offered to customers who are part of the loyalty program or can be requested upon request.
At 13:30 we met on the terrace to have lunch outside. They were waiting for us with a Swedish buffet full of goodies: seafood salad, mozzarella bread, spring rolls, a selection of cheese and much more.
And for dessert there was a variety of vegan cakes in addition to the classic ones. I couldn't help noticing a fisherman who was also attracted by our buffet.
After lunch there followed a meeting where we were able to discuss at length about the changes they have made, the novelties they have introduced in the spa menu and a visit to the spa. Ana Aslan Health Spa with Dr. Mihaela Cucu, Medical Director
They are 100% organic cosmetics, with ingredients that come from organic farms in wild areas where plants grow respecting their natural habitat. The products contain ingredients from different plants that have been used for centuries in their countries of origin for healing and nourishing the skin.
For the extraction of the active ingredients, plant extracts and high quality oils, we learned from Dr. Mihaela Cucu that the dry method with carbon dioxide is used.
New Therapies 2022: ANANNE GLOW & LIFTING "BEAUTY KICK" (25 min), DETOX & RELAX FACIAL RITUAL (50'), DEEP DETOX (30'), NATURAL BODY RELAX (80')
New packages 2022: Relax Mix - 4 nights, Speed Balneo - 4 nights - details here: Special offers Ana Aslan Health SPA, Eforie Nord - AboutSpa
Own garden with vegetables - from which they also cook, or rather, the spices for their dishes are provided from their own garden so that they taste as good as possible, and offer a special experience in the restaurant, in addition to the spa.
Continue efforts for sustainability actions:
As always, the water kept me afloat. I wouldn't have been able to do the exercises if I hadn't held on to the bars at the side of the pool. I had difficulties anyway, because I'm very weak and then whatever I do, it takes extra effort for me to stay in the water, not to float.
On the one hand, water gymnastics has the major advantage that there is no pressure on the spine and joints. But Ana Aslan Health Spa, the fact that we did it in the water of Lake Techirghiol helps:
⭐️reumatoida (anti-inflammatory and regenerating effect on the locomotor system), scoliosis, kyphosis
⭐️afectiuni dermatologic: eczema, psoriasis, pruritus, keratotic dermatitis (relief of some skin conditions)
⭐️afectiuni respiratory (prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases such as rhinopharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinopharyngitis, sinusitis, viral infections, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis or pulmonary fibrosis)
⭐️boli gynecological (natural treatment for female hormonal rebalancing and infertility treatment)
⭐️afectiuni post-traumatic (contusions, sprains, sprains, dislocations, fractures, ligament injuries, muscle strains, muscle atrophy)
⭐️boli vascular
Beware that the water from Lake Techirghiol (and in general any natural salt water) is contraindicated for people with chronic diseases, pregnant women and those who have problems with blood pressure.
After water gymnastics, we changed and went for a walk on the beach. It was warm and pleasant, the wind was very light, much lighter than I would have expected in May.
We came back from the beach for dinner. We had a light menu again. In fact, the menu is for all tastes, but I really appreciated the fact that we found light, evening dishes: a delicious broccoli and other vegetables cooked in various ways.
I fell asleep as soon as I laid my head on the pillow and woke up at 5:40 when the alarm went off so I could catch the sunrise.
Although I used to admire the sunrise on the beach, I realized that there was no telling when I would be staying on the 8th floor, so I stayed in my room. In fact, the next morning I did the same, and I didn't regret it. Another day, other colors, other paintings in the sky. I leave below pictures of both mornings:
If you read my articles, you know that I start my day with 10 - 12 minutes of asana yoga - for many years now. It rarely happens that I don't do them. I like to feel my whole body stretching, and, in addition, they give me a sense of well being with which I feel I can start the day strong and in control.
When I found out that we were going to do morning yoga on the beach I was absolutely thrilled.
Armed with our little mattresses, at 8:00 we were on the beach to greet the sun:
I understand you can also do yoga in the hotel garden. I'll tell you about the garden later.
Then we took a guided tour of the Old Center of Constanta with Diana Slav from meetlocals.ro. It was an interesting walk through the streets full of symbols of the various ethnic groups that have left their mark over the centuries.
Upon our return, we continued with two mini-therapies
In the bathtub there were 15 kg of mud in approx. 150 liters of salty lake water - directly from Lake Techirghiol. Incidentally, it is the only Spa where you can do treatments with water from Lake Techirghiol.
The mud bath is a therapy that has been practiced since the 1850s.
I learned from the therapist that actually the combination of mud and salt water is the most effective. If mud therapies are not accompanied by salt water therapies, the effect of the mud is diminished.
So, although I held on as much as I could with my hands and the soles of my feet to stay up to my neck in the tub - so that my body could benefit as much as possible from this magical mix of mud and water - I didn't succeed. I'm writing this because the idea is to sit as deep as possible, not how I look in the picture:
In addition to the benefits of the water from Lake Techir, which I wrote about above, the sapropelic mud from Lake Techirghiol:
Detoxify and exfoliate the skin
Purifies and moisturizes the skin
Relieves back and joint pain
Reduces muscle contractures
Stimulates peripheral circulation
Get rid of cellulite
Relieves rheumatic problems
Relieves dermatologic problems
Namolul de Techirghiol is one of the best types of mud in Europe. It was awarded a gold medal in Paris in 1924.
I know that in Romania people are of the opinion that such spa treatments should be done at the age of 3. But balneology doctors recommend these therapies to everyone over 35. And I can reconfirm that I did and still do and I feel excellent after them.
Plus, at least this mud bath was more relaxing than I could have imagined!
In reality, although it fit very well into the 25 minute time, the therapist also gave me a facial massage. I asked her if it was included in the massage protocol and she told me that she tailors the massage depending on how the client is feeling. And with me, she felt that I needed a facial, so she reserved a few minutes for that as well.
The truth is that that morning I had woken up before 5 o'clock, to catch that spectacular pink-orange before sunrise. I said that art is worth sacrifices, but by the evening, at the massage, and after the three-hour walk through Constanta, I was already feeling it. So the therapist's intuition was very welcome and I left there relaxed and fresh for dinner.
And especially I left behind another element that completed my well-being, besides sun, mud therapies, salt water, massage, yoga:
It's a very special place, I don't know who designed it, but I'm sure they thought about guests' relaxation more than anything else.
It's wonderful to drink your morning coffee against a backdrop of flowing water and chirping birds, to be able to read a book or answer emails in this fairytale-like place.
The picture above is taken by one of the ladies setting the tables for breakfast. When she saw that I was trying to choose a frame to take a picture of the coffee basket, she immediately offered to take my picture so that I could be in it.
One lunchtime she made me a Panna Cota dessert. It had a sauce that seemed to contain strawberries, and I'm allergic. I asked a waiter and he confirmed that it did. But he suggested, without my asking, that he bring me a portion of another sweet. And this is what I got:
They are small gestures that make a huge difference. For me, at least, they make me look forward to returning to them.
Ioana Marian,
Founder despreSpa.ro
Virtual Wellness Explorer
